Controller



April 10, 1945. B ULlNsKl 2,373,636

CONTROLLER Filed Aug. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY B. ULlNsKl 2,373,636

CONTROLLER Filed Aug. 17, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 56 .37.08 M'vlvm J 42) mgm g 95 415262@ TBY M, ,am

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 10, 1945 CONTROLLER Eronislaus Ulinski, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, Stam ford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 17, 1940, Serial No. 353,096

12 Claims. (Cl. 20.--18) This invention relates to a controller adapted for utilization in an industrial truck, and more particularly in an industrial truck having a plurality of traction motors. A feature of my new and novel controller is its ready adaptability for a considerable number or" uses, it being shown in this application adapted for'controlling a plurality of motor circuits.

In its preferred form, my controller comprises a rotating shaft on which may be mounted one or more Contact members for simultaneous rotation by the shaft relatively to fixed contacts. The contacts rotatable with the shaft may be arranged so that one will control one motor, while another will control a second motor. As further illustrating the adaptability of my controller, the contacts rotatable with the shaft may be arranged so as to divide between them the current.

for a single motor, thereby reducing the amount of current carried by each rotatable contact member and the stationary contact members cooperable therewith. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this makes it possible to use lighter and less costly contact elements.

'As va further feature of my controller, it is particularly adapted for controlling the circuits vof one or more motors in which resistances are to be short circuited one by one, preferably through means of contactors. Thus, it is a preferred feature o'f my vcontroller that those contact elements rotatable with the shaft relatively to stationary contacts, are utilized for closing the directional circuit ofa. motor or motors to be controlled, in one or the other direction, and that continued rotation of the shaft, because of the particular arrangement of the Contact elements, maintains the 'said circuit closed. This continued rotation of the shaft is utilized, however, to close rst, and preferably, a 'contacterfor the motor circuit, and thereafter for .short circuiting out of the motor circuit the traction resistances contained therein. The continued rotation of the shaft may be used in other ways, of course. Thus, Where a pair of motors are first connected in series, the continued rotation of the shaft may be utilized to close circuits to throw the motors into parallel.

More in detail, vfor the particular adaptation herein to be described, my controller comprises a main shaft carrying apair of rotatable disks, one for each traction motor of the 'form of truck which I Show in this application. Naturally, where there is but a single traction motor, there will be vbut one disk unless it is desired to divide the 'current between two disks. Each of the disks carries a pair of contact segments oi considerable extent separated by insulation areas. By rotatingr the shaft in one direction, the contact segments cooperate with stationary contacts, preferably inthe form of brushes, and direct the current in one direction through the traction motors, While rotation of the shaft in another direction will direct the current in a reverse direction through the motors, all as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

The considerable extent or length of the segments carried by each disk is utilized to maintain closed the particular directional circuit of each traction motor which is closed, While a cam carried by the shaft closes iirst, preferably, a contactor circuit for the main motor circuits. Further rotation of the shaft will preferably be utilized, as was previously indicated, to short out resistances in the traction circuits of the two motors, and possibly to place the motors in parallel if they have been started in series.

I have thus described generally the more important features of my invention in order that the scope and nature of my contribution tothe art may be better understood. There are, of course, other features of my invention which I shall hereinafter describe and claim, While I shall now show and describe a particular preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that I deem myself entitled to patent claims which will prevent the utilization of my contribution in physical forms other than those described by me herein.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. l shows in perspective a type of truck for which my controller is particularly adapted. Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing my controller assembly ready for mounting on a truck. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the controller, while Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially along lines #-4 of Fig. 3 with the section arranged to show the 'contact disks in elevation. Fig. 5 is a section taken along lines 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective View oi one of the insulation pieces utilized for carrying the brushes. Fig. 7 is a section taken along lines I-l of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a view of the truck of Fig, l, looking from the bottom of the truck upwardly and illustrating the mounting of the traction motors and traction wheels. Fig. 9 is a schematic View of a type of circuit in which my controller is adapted to function.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially to Figs. l and 8, reference numeral designates a type of industrial truck with which my invention is particularly cooperable. Naturally, I shall describe only those parts of the truck which are particularly pertinent to my invention. Truck I may have the usual rear steering wheels I I and the forward traction wheels i2, the traction wheels I2 each carrying a pair of sprockets I3 in driving engagement with a pair of chains Iii. The chains It are driven by sprockets I5 mounted on shafts it suitably supported on the main frame of the truck Ill. Each shaft I6 carries at one end a brake drum I1 with which are cooperable the usual type of brake y shoes I1a for stopping the rotation of the shaft I6 when the power to the traction motors of the truck is shut off. Mounted at the other end of each of the shafts I6 is a beveled gear I 3 in contact with a beveled pinion I9 secured at the end of the armature shaft of the armature of the electric motor 2I. It is now apparent from Figs. 1 and 8 that each of the traction wheels I2 of the truck I0 is separately adapted for driving by the armature of an electric motor 2l, through the pinion I9, the gear I8, the sprockets I3 and I5, and the chains M.

It will be further apparent to those skilled in the art that it becomes necessary to control the circuits of the two motors ZI simultaneously, so as to properly control the operation of those motors in the usual way understood by those skilled in the art. While my controller is adapted for utilization in many other types of installations, I have thoughtit best to describe it.in the particular combination herein shown. Once the operation of my invention for controlling the operation of traction motors 2! is understood, its possibilities in other assemblies and for other purposes will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2- inclusive, wherein my controller is illustrated,

it will be noted that the main shaft thereof is .f

designatedl by the reference numeral 22 and is adapted for rotation by a handle 2-3 having a knob 2li, the handle 23 being keyed to the shaft 22 as at 25 in any desirable manner. The main shaft 22 rotates relatively to upper and lower indentically similar bearing plates 26, shown best in section in Figs. 3 and 4, and in plan in Figs 5 and '7. Referring especially to Figs. 5 and 7, each of the bearing plates 25 is shown as having three extending arms, one of these being designated by the reference manual 21, while the other two, being duplicates, are indicated by reference numeral 28.

As shown best in Fig. 3, each of the arms 21 of the bearing plates 25 is bored out as at 29 for the housing of a wick which is maintained by a spring 3| against the main shaft 22. The spring 3l bears against a threaded retainer cap 32 which is threaded into a counterbored portion 29a of the bore 29, The cap 32 is drilled vas at 33 whereby oil may be inserted into the bore 29 to be fed by the wick 30 to the shaft 22. In this way, the shaft 22 is maintained properly lubricated as is required, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

A pair of contact or segment carrying disks, preferably identical in every way, are keyed to the main shaft 22 at 34 and at 35. Each disk, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 3E, is shown best in elevation in Fig. 4, and in section in Figs. 3 and '1. Each of the disks is formed of a suitable cast plastic insulation material of the type well known in this art, and has imbedded therein a pair of identical and opposed contact segments 31 which are separated by insulation areas 3B which are part of the main plastic cast portion of the disks 36. Moreover, each of the segments 31 is insulated at its top and bottom by overlying and underlying iianges 39 extending from the main cast body of the disks 36. It will of course be appreciated that the disks are formed by the flowing of the plastic material about the segments 31 which are placed in the mold in which the disks 35 are cast or formed.

For cooperating with the disks 36 and the segments 31, there are mounted opposite each of the disks 36 a pair of brush supports each carrying a pair of brushes. One of these brush supports is shown in perspective in Fig. 6, where it is designated by reference numeral 40. It is cast from a plastic insulation material and, as is best shown in Fig. '7, has square holes 4I in which are mounted for sliding movement suitable contact brushes 42 for cooperation with the segments 31.

Each of the brusheslSZ is spring pressed toward .a contact segment 31 by a coil spring 43 having a pair of spring arms 4Q, and 'secured on lugs 45 cast integrally with the body of the brush support 4U. Each of the brushes 42 is in contact with a pig tail 46 extending to a suitable binding post .41. Formed integrally also with each of the brush supports 40 is a shoulder 4S which, as best shown in Fig. 2, extends over the fiat end surface of the arm 28 of the main bearing plate 26 for maintaining the brush support against rotation vrelatively to the entire assembly. It is thought that even from the description thus far advanced, it can be seen just how the single form of brush support 40, and the single form of disk 31 are utilized in the assembly of my controller.

Each of the brush supports 4l] is also drilled as at 49 for the passage of a main bolt 55, there being two of these bolts, one for each of the arms 23 of the main bearing plates 25. It can best be seen from Fig. 4 that the bolts 50 traverse the bores 28a in the arms 28 of the bearing plates 2E, and the bores 49 of the brush supports 4D, to maintain assembled the brush supports 5I), the disks 35, the main shaft 22, and the bearing plates 25. In addition, the bolts 5I! may be used to secure the controller assembly to the frame of they truck I0, by simply extending the bolts through suitable openings Ia formed in the main frame, all as is apparent in Fig. 4.

The bolts 50 function also to maintain assembled to the upper main bearing plate 26 a substantially U-shaped index bracket 5I having a central neutral notch 59a and a series of three speed notches 52 at each side of the central neutral notch 5Ia. Cooperating with the index bracket 5I is an indexing cam 53, shown best in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. This indexing cam is keyed as at 54 to the main shaft 22 vfor rotation therewith. It is bored out as at 55 for an indexing pin 55 which is spring pressed outwardly against the several notches 5Ia, 52 by a spring 51 whereby it functions to maintain the shaft 22 yieldingly in any position to which it is rotated relatively to the index bracket 5I.

It may be well to indicate that in addition to the key 54, a screw 58 is used to secure the indexing cam 52 to the shaft 22 and against sliding movement relatively to that shaft, all as will be quite apparent to those skilled in the art. Also, the indexing cam 53 has a cam surface 59 cooperable with a plunger BD maintained for sliding movement within a bracket 6I. This bracket 6l is secured by a pair of parallel stud bolts E2 to the upper bearing plate 2li, as is probably best illustrated in Fig. 3. The plunger B0 is limited in movement by a screw 60d operating within a slot 64 of the plunger 60. Screws 63 are utilized for securingto the bracket 6l a 'protecting plate 65, the function of which will become apparent hereinafter.

At this point it may be well to add that the plunger` Bil carries a pin 6G formed of insulation material through which the plunger SU is adapted to operate a spring ringer contact El and further spring finger contacts 68, E9 and l0, as well as a leaf spring ll, all for a purpose to be explained more fully hereinafter.

The lower of the bearing plates 2S has bores l2 which are threaded for the entry of a pair of bolts 13. It will be important to indicate at this time that the threaded bores 'l2 are so spaced as to be available for either the threaded bolts 1.3 or for the bolts B2, which it will be remembered cooperate with the upper bearing plate 26 for securing to it the bracket 6l. This further illustrates the manner in which my invention is adapted for economical manufacture and assembly.

The bolts 'i3 support relatively to the lower bearing plate 26 an insulation bar v'M and the insulation washers 'l5 and 16, as well as a further insulation bar 'il and further insulation wash- '1 ers 1B. Between the washers l and the insulation bal` 74 there are supported the leaf spring 'H and the first spring contact member 6l. Between the washers 15 and 'IE there is supported the second spring contact member 68. Between the washers 16 and the insulation bar 'l'l there is supported the spring contact ringer 69. Between the washers 1.8 and the insulation bar 'll there is supported the spring contact nger 18, all as will be quite apparent. Also, as best seen in Fig. '7, surrounding the bolts 13 to insulate them from the spring contact fingers, are insulation sleeves 13a The insulation bar l1 has mounted thereon the binding posts 8u for a purpose which will be quite clear to those skilled in the art, who will know that from certain of the binding posts 80 conductors run to the spring linger Contact fingers, the motors 2| and the Various contactors, all as may be required.

It will now be obvious to those skilled in the art that when the main shaft 22 of my controller l is rotated by the handle 23 through the knob 24,

either Iin a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction, the indexing cam 59 moves integrally therewith relatively to the plunger 6D. The cam 59 will function when the indexing pin 56 reaches the rst notch of either of the series of notches 52, to move the first of the spring contact fingers into contact with the second, and upon continued rotation, to bring all of the spring contact fingers into engagement, for the purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of my invention, I shall now refer to the schematic drawing of a circuit in which my controller is operable, and which is shown in Fig. 9. I should like to point out at this time that in Fig. 9 I will show the spring finger contacts l-l actually within the traction circuit, rather than operative through contactors as is the commercial practice. other words, instead of illustrating the pair of spring lingers B9 and 10 as closing a circuit through an electric relay which in turn shorts out a part of the traction resistance, I have shown the spring linger contact members 69 and InP To as themselves directly within the traction circuit. While this shortens the description and drawings, the operation of my invention is even more easily understood than were I to go into the detail which would otherwise be required.

In the schematic diagram of Fig. 9, the parts are illustrated in their positions shown in the remaining gures, that is, with 'all circuits open, and with the disks 3E in the neutral position of Fig 7 relatively to the brushes 42, the brushes 42 being shown by arrows' in Fig. 9. A suitable source of current is designated by the battery 8l, while portions oi the traction resistances are designated by reference ni'l'merals S2 'and 83. The iield coil of each of the motors 2l is designated 'by reference numeral 84, while the armatures are numbered 85.

Should the main shaft 22 be now rotated in either a right hand or a left hand direction, each .of the segments 3l will move into contact with two 'of the brushes ft2, the insulation areas 3S moving away from two of the brushes 5.2, all

is Quite apparent. However, the traction circuit 'will remain open., due to the separation of the spring contact fingers el 'and et. It is not until the shaft 22 has moved a suiiicent distance to bring the indexing pin 5i; into the first of the notches of either series of notches 52 of index bracket 5l, that the plunger 60 will have moved sufiiciently to .bring spring ngers 6l and 68 into Contact. At this point a circuit will be closed from the battery 8i through the spring fingers l'l and 68 to the terminal 82a of the traction resistance through the traction resistances 82 and B3, and thence in parallel through each of the -held coils 84 brushes l2 Contact segments 3l. the armatures 85, brushes 42, segments 3l,-

brushes 42, and back to the battery 3l. Those skilled-in the art will appreciate that in commercial practice, the contactors operated by the bringing together oli spring fingers 6l and 68 will accept the alcing, incidental to the iii-st closing oi the motor circuits.

Continued rotation of the shalt 22 will merely move the segments 3l relatively to the brushes 42, while maintaining 'closed the directional circuits between the segments 3l and the brushes d2, all as will be quite apparent. At the same time the plunger Eil will be moved so that it will bring the three spring contact ngers Sl', 68 and SQ together whereby to short out the're'sistance 82. Further movement of the plunger GU inci dental to the rotation of the shaft 22 will bring all four of the spring fingers together, snorting out the resistance B3. Thus, regardless of the rotation of the shaft 252, the functioning of the spring fingers ele-'lll will be exactly the same.

The motors 2| may therefore be controlled for.

rotation in either direction in `a very simple manner, by the rotation of shaft 22 in a co1'- responding direction.

As I have already explained generally, it .is now quite clear that through my controller, one or more motors, such. as the motors 2l of the truck 'off Fig. 8, may be controlled in any way desired. Thus, I must reiterate it is possible by providing the proper circuitsA` to first place the motors 2l in series, whileutilizing a contactor opera-ted by spring finger contacts 69 and lll, to throw the motors into parallel. Naturally, also, such interlocks and timers as may be required to control the controller operation, may be utilined without aiiectng the operation of my conu ti'oll'er. Moreover, it s readily discernible that should a single traction motor be utilized, but for a very heavy duty truck, that motor may require more current than may be handled by a. single one of the disks`36 and two pairs of brushes 42. In such a case, a series of disks 36 may be utilized for ,dividing the current which must ow through the motor, all as is possible through a proper arrangement of the conductors leading to and from the several binding posts of my controller.

Having thus clarified the operation and adaptability of my invention, I now claim:

1. In a controller of the class described, a rotatable shaft, means mounting said shaft for rotation, a contact making device secured on said shaft 4for rotation therewith, stationary contact means engageable with said device as it rotates with said shaft, a series of normally spaced contact members, and means rotatable with s-aid shaft for moving said members sequentially into contact and for maintaining said members in contact as said shaft rotates, said Contact making device being of suicient angular extent to remain engaged with said stationary contact means as said shaft bring; said spaced contact members into contact.

2. In a controller of the class described, a rotatable shaft, a contact making device secured secured on said shaft for rotation therewith, stationary contact means cooperable with said device as it rotates with said shaft to close a circuit and to maintain said circuit closed as said shaft rotates a predetermined degree, a series off normally spaced contact members, and means rotatable with said shaft for moving] said members sequentially into contact as said shaft rotates said predetermined degree, whereby said contact fingers close control circuits for said first circuit.

3. In a controller of the class described, a rotatable shaft, a pair of contact making devices fixed on said shaft in angularly spaced relation relatively to a neutral space therebetween, stationary contacts cooperable with said devices when said shaft rotates in one or the other direction for closing one or the other of two directional circuits, a series of spaced contact fingers, and means rotatable with said shaft for moving said fingers into contact with one another, and for holding said fingers in contact as said shaft rotates in either of said directions.

4. In a controller of the class described, a rotatable shaft, a pair of contact making devices xed on said shaft in angularly spaced relation relatively to a neutral space therebetween, stationary contacts cooperable with said devices when said shaft rotates in one or the other direction for closing one or the other of two directional circuits and to maintain said directional circuits closed as said shaft rotatesv a predetermined degree, a series of spaced contact ngers, and means rotatable with said shaft for moving said fingers sequentially into contact with one another as said shaft rotates in either of said directions said predetermined degree, whereby said contact ngers close control circuits for said directional circuits.

5. In a controller of the class described, a rotatable shaft, a disk fixed to said shaft and having formed thereon two contact segments separated by insulation material, stationary brushes relatively to which said disk moves in opposite directions whereby to bring said segments into contact with said brushes, said segments closing with said brushes one or the other of two directional circuits depending on the direction of rotation of said disk and shaft, a seriesof spaced contact fingers, and means rotatable with said shaft for moving said fingers sequentially into contact with one another, and for holding said fingers in contact as said shaft rotates in either of said directions.

6.A In a controller of the class described, a rotatable shaft, a contact making device secured on said shaft for rotation therewith, stationary contact means cooperable with said device as it rotates with said shaft to close a circuit and to maintain said circuit closed as said shaft rotates a predetermined degree, a series of spaced contacts for closing control circuits for said electric circuit, and means rotatable with said shaft for moving said contacts to close said control circuits as said shaft rotates said predetermined degree.

'7. In a controller of the class described, a rctatable shaft, a pair of contact making devices fixed on said shaft in angularly spaced relation relatively to a neutral space therebetween, stationary contacts cooperable with said devices when said shaft rotates in one or the other direction for closing one or the other of two directional circuits and to maintain said directional circuits closed as said shaft rotates a predetermined degree, a series of spaced contacts for closing control circuits for said directional circuits, and means rotatable with said shaft for moving said contacts sequentially to close said control circuits sequentially as said shaft rotatesf'said predetermined degree in either of said directions.

8. In a controller of the class described, a mounting member, a rotatable. shaft rotatable relatively to said mounting member,A a contact disk Xed on said shaft for rotation therewith, a stationary contact brush carried on said mounting member for contacting said disk as said disk rotates with said shaft relatively to said brush, a cam secured on said shaft, a series of spaced contact fingers on said mounting member, apin adapted for movement by said cam and slidable on said mounting member towards said contact fingers, the rotation of said shaft moving said cam whereby to slide said pin on said mounting member and .against said contact fingers to move said fingers sequentially into contact with one another.

9. In a controller of the class described, a rotatable shaft, a series of duplicate disks fixed in superimposed like positions on said shaft for rotation therewith, each disk having formed thereon opposed contact segments separated from one another by insulation material, stationary brushes relatively toV which said disks rotate with said shaft in opposite directions whereby to bring said segments into contact with said brushes to close opposite directional circuits, said segments being of such extent as to allow substantial continued rotation of said shaft while said segments remain in contact with said brushes, a series of additional contacts normally maintained separated and adapted to close control circuits for said directional circuits, and means rotatable with said shaft when it rotates in either of said directions for moving said contacts to close said control circuits sequentially during said substantial continued rotation of said shaft.

10. A controller for a pair of motors comprising a shaft, a pair of duplicate disks fixed in superimposed like positions on said shaft for rotation therewith, each disk having formed thereon opposed contact segments separated from one another by insulation material, stationary brushes relatively to which said disks rotate with said shaft in opposite directions whereby to bring said segments into contact with said brushes to close opposite directional circuits for both said motors simultaneously, said segments being of such extent as to allow substantial continued rotation of said shaft while said segments remain in contact with said brushes, a series of additional contacts normally maintained separated and movable toward one another, and means rotatable with said shaft for moving said contacts sequentially toward one another during said substantial continued rotation of said shaft in either of said opposite directions.

11. In a controller of the class described, upper and lower bearing plates, a shaft rotatable in said bearing plates, a plurality of brush holders of insulation material positioned between said bearing plates, bolts passing through holes in said upper and lower bearing plates and bores in said brush holders to secure said plates and holders in assembled relation, disks of insulation material keyed on said shaft between said upper and lower bearing plates and rotatable with said shaft relatively to said brush holders, conductor segments mounted in said disks to form a part thereof, brushes mounted for movement on said brush holders, springs pressing said brushes against said disk and segments, a series of normally separated spring contact fingers, a cam xed to said shaft, and means whereby said cam moves said fingers sequentially into contact with one another as said shaft rotates said disks relatively to said brushes in either of said opposite directions.

l2. In a controller of the class described, a rotatable shaft, a support member for mounting said shaft for rotation, a pair of contact making segments, means mounting said segments on said shaft for rotation therewith, means insulating said segments from said shaft and from one another, stationary contacts adapted to make contact with one of said segments when said shaft is rotated in one direction and adapted to make contact with the other of said segments when said shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, a series of normally separated contact devices spaced from said shaft, and means on said shaft for bringing said Contact devices into engagement in predetermined sequence when said shaft rotates in either of said directions to bring said segments into engagement with said stationary contacts.

BRONISLAUS ULINSKI. 

